Sulbactam/Ampicillin versus Cefotaxime as Initial Therapy in Serious Soft Tissue, Joint and Bone Infections

In an open, randomised comparative study, 23 patients with bone, joint or soft tissue infections were treated with ampicillin 2g plus sulbactam 1g 3 times a day or cefotaxime 2g 3 times a day as an initial 2- week therapy. Monoinfections with Staphylococcus aureus were the most common bone or joint infections. Clinical cure or improvement 2 weeks after the end of therapy was observed in all 13 patients treated with sulbactam/ampicillin and in 7 of the 8 patients evaluated for efficacy after treatment with cefotaxime.